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Detroit Zoo, Royal Oak, MI

Photo: RedGazelle15, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

AttractionsFamily Favorite

Detroit Zoo

8450 W 10 Mile Rd · Royal Oak, MI

Why you should go…

The Detroit Zoo spans 125 acres in Royal Oak and Huntington Woods and holds more than 2,000 animals from over 200 species. You can watch penguins at the Polk Penguin Conservation Center, walk the Arctic Ring of Life, and visit the Great Apes of Harambee and Devereaux Tiger Forest. It was the first zoo in the country to show animals in bar-less habitats, and you can enter from Woodward Avenue or 10 Mile Road.

  • #zoo
  • #penguins
  • #animals
  • #kids activities
  • #conservation

Good to know

General attractions guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • Book the time slot, not just the ticket

    Timed entry is now the norm at big-draw attractions, and online tickets are often cheaper than the gate.

  • Grab the daily schedule on arrival

    Feeding times, keeper talks, and shows run on a posted timetable that changes day to day.

  • The first hour is the quietest

    Queues build through late morning and peak after lunch, so an early start buys you the shortest waits.

  • Budget past the ticket price

    Parking, lockers, strollers, and food inside the gates are common extras worth planning for.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Detroit Zoo, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Shopping
    Local Gem

    Polish Art Center

    Free

    A Hamtramck emporium of Polish stoneware, amber jewelry, folk art, and imported goods.

    7.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Shopping

  • Museums
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    Ford Piquette Avenue Plant

    Under $25

    Walk the 1904 brick factory where Ford built the first Model T, now a museum filled with more than 65 rare early cars.

    8.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Museums
    Iconic

    Detroit Institute of Arts

    Under $25

    See Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry murals and more than 65,000 artworks in a Beaux-Arts building on Woodward Avenue.

    9.4 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Iconic

    Greenfield Village

    $25–$50

    Walk seven historic districts with working farms, craft shops, Edison's lab and rides in a Model T or behind a steam locomotive.

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Michigan Renaissance Festival

    $25–$50

    Seasonal Renaissance-era fair in Holly with jousting, costumed performers, artisan vendors and themed food, rain or shine.

    33 mi awayMore like this

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Perry's Cave Family Fun Center

    Under $25

    A five-attraction family fun park on Put-in-Bay island, built around a real underground cave.

    60 mi awayMore like this